Making a difference in older person’s health

The number of older people in New Zealand is growing rapidly. Most people aged 65+ years are fit and healthy, but a minority are frail or vulnerable and require high levels of care and disability support. These increased needs usually arise during the last few years of life, or from chronic illness or disability that may have been present for many years.

Community and Public Health is therefore committed to ensuring positive health outcomes for older people in our region. South Canterbury is the only South Island region with more than 15 percent of population aged over 65.

It is predicted that more than one in 5 people in NZ will be aged over 65 by 2031 and of these one in 8 people will be aged 85 or older. Of significance over the coming decades is the growing proportion of older Māori, Pacific and Asian peoples as well as other ethnic groups.

Supporting the health and wellbeing of kaumātua in Canterbury

Community and Public Health have set up both monthly Health Hubs and Health Clinics for kaumātua or elders and the wider community to access in Canterbury. A steady stream of kaumātua make good use of the information, resources and advice that is on offer. Kaumātua are empowering themselves, developing awareness and taking responsible action for their own health and wellbeing needs. This includes getting medication advice and having checks for blood pressure, hearing, vision or other medical conditions.

Often further medical care is recommended to address concerns raised by the health checks, such as GP follow-up or specialist referrals. All the Hubs and Clinics include whanaungatanga and laughter over a cup of tea.

Documents

• Planning for older people’s mental wellbeing (Te Pou 2021).
• Age friendly Aotearoa New Zealand Toolkit (Office for Seniors 2020).
• Enabling Spaces: Supporting older people who hoard in Canterbury (Canterbury DHB 2020 – 6MB).
• Longer, Healthier Lives: New Zealand’s Health 1990–2017 (Ministry of Health 2020).
• Better Later Life – He Oranga Kaumātua 2019 to 2034 (Office for Seniors 2019).
• Long-term Residential Care for Older People: What you need to know (Ministry of Health 2019).
• The drinking patterns of older New Zealanders: National and international Comparisons (Health Promotion Agency 2017).
• Healthy Ageing Strategy (Ministry of Health 2016).

• Attitudes towards ageing (Office for Seniors – Ministry of Social Development 2016).
• Towards gaining a greater understanding of Elder Abuse and Neglect in New Zealand (Office for Senior Citizens 2015).
• 2014 Report on the Positive Ageing Strategy (Ministry of Social Development).
• Alcohol use in advanced age: Findings from LiLACS NZ (University of Auckland 2014).
• Food and Nutrition Guidelines for Healthy Older People: A background paper (Ministry of Health 2013).
• Guidelines on Physical Activity for Older People (Ministry of Health 2013).
• Tatau Kura Tangata: Health of Older Māori Chart Book 2011 (Ministry of Health).
• Life-long sexuality (Family Planning – no longer in print).

Downloads

Download or order resources from the Community Health Information Centre.

• Ageing Well.
• Eating for Healthy Older People.
• What is a Stroke? (NZ Stroke Foundation).
• Alcohol and Older People (Health Promotion Agency).
• Late Life Depression (Mental Health Foundation).
• Looking out for one another: Social isolation and loneliness (Office for Senior Citizens).

Links

• Community Transport Services in Christchurch/Canterbury (AgeConcern).
• Boomers and beyond (Mental Health Foundation).
• SuperSeniors (Ministry of Social Development).
• Eldernet.
• Age Concern Canterbury – has branches covering South Canterbury and West Coast.
• Office for Senior Citizens (Ministry of Social Development).

Advance Care Planning: Having conversations that count

Advance Care Planning (ACP) is the process of thinking about, talking about and planning for future health care and end of life care.

Advance care planning gives everyone a chance to say what’s important to them. It helps older people understand what the future might hold and to say what treatment they would and would not want.

This makes it much easier for families and healthcare providers to know what the person would want – particularly if they can no longer speak for themselves.

• Order resources on advance care planning if you are in Canterbury, South Canterbury or West Coast.
• Get more information on advance care planning (HealthInfo).
• Find out more about advance care plans, including templates and online guides (National Advance Care Planning Cooperative NZ).
• Read or watch stories about having an advance care plan.